Darjeeling, Assam or .... ?

**Poulin** · 08-01-2008, 09:22 PM

Any tea drinkers here?

I enjoy a nice pot of Darjeeling or Nepalese First Flush FTGFOP in the afternoon or early evening. Assam Gold Tips TGFOP in the morning.

What's your fave cuppa? Where do you buy your leaves? What do you brew up in and drink out of?

**jrodriguez** · 08-01-2008, 11:21 PM

I'm not much of a tea drinker - I'm generally drinking coffee all day (Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company, or Stumptown out of Portland) but research once took me to Darjeeling. I happened to meet the owner of the Makaibari Tea Estate who gave me a cup of his first flush and some Yewu Green he'd gotten from China ... oh man that stuff was good!

**dloyd9999** · 08-02-2008, 03:59 AM

Yorkshire Red first thing in the am, Yorkshire gold in the midday, and I blend an Assam and Ceylon for evenings. I mean Ceylon too! I have 10 lbs of various vacuum-packed ceylon teas I bought when I was younger. I crack one open every now and then.

The whole family were/are tea drinkers... Except for the odd Tim Horton's coffee.

**ouch** · 08-02-2008, 08:38 AM

I've enjoyed tea for years, but have only recently gone completely over the edge with the discovery of puerh. I like green tea and I love oolong, but I don't see myself drinking much of them any more. Puerh is just so much better in every regard.

Brewing? Yixing pots only.

**SepticTank** · 08-02-2008, 08:52 AM

Earl Grey for me all the way - not a perfumey one though (Twinings is like gargling with cheap aftershave) - my brand of preference is Bewley's of Ireland, or if I can't get that then Jenners of Edinburgh or Waitrose own label is acceptable...

Brew up in a cafetiere.... drink in a gallon mug....

**Poulin** · 08-03-2008, 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by ouch

I've enjoyed tea for years, but have only recently gone completely over the edge with the discovery of puerh. I like green tea and I love oolong, but I don't see myself drinking much of them any more. Puerh is just so much better in every regard.

Brewing? Yixing pots only.

Loose or cake? I keep some nice loose puerh around.

I also have some wonderful oolong.

I mainly drink Indian teas though.

**ouch** · 08-03-2008, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by scottlp

Loose or cake? I keep some nice loose puerh around.

I also have some wonderful oolong.

I mainly drink Indian teas though.

No loose puerh for me. Anything good will be in a cake or brick form, or a few other traditional shapes.

I have a few mottos to which I'm certain people will take exception, but here goes-

Wine is a product made in France.
Tea is a product made in China.

**Poulin** · 08-04-2008, 06:12 AM

Originally Posted by ouch

No loose puerh for me. Anything good will be in a cake or brick form, or a few other traditional shapes.

I have a few mottos to which I'm certain people will take exception, but here goes-

Wine is a product made in France.
Tea is a product made in China.

Well I can't say I agree with you entirely. I used to hang with with a sommelier who would have passionately argued that your statement was a bit narrow minded. And the tea merchant I deal with would say the same. However, your tastes are your own! YMMV, right?

**Cheech** · 08-05-2008, 09:35 AM

Monkey Picked for a nice fermented tea, but I've recently discovered Mate. Mate is brutal at first but mellows quickly. Also gives a nice pick-me-up without the let-down of coffee.

**ouch** · 08-05-2008, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by scottlp

I used to hang with with a sommelier who would have passionately argued that your statement was a bit narrow minded.

If he discussed the matter with me for an hour, he may have considered changing careers.

**ant4177** · 08-06-2008, 01:54 PM

I love Twinings Traditional Afternoon. A blend of Kenyan, Assam, and Ceylon teas. I have tried many teas and this is my favourite by far.

**ouch** · 08-06-2008, 02:52 PM

The only teas that don't agree with me are black. I can take a very heavily oxidized oolong, say a champagne formosa, but not a black.

With oolongs, I tend to enjoy the greener ones, such as the tung tings from Taiwan. There's such an amazing array of tea available, from sencha and gyukoro. pouchongs, pi lo chuns, etc. The list just goes on and on.

**Stauff** · 08-07-2008, 12:08 AM

Should be receiving a tin of Fortnum and Mason 'Breakfast Blend' (blend of pure Assam teas) next week. Otherwise it's Taylor's of Harrogate's pure Assam for me.

At work, I'll settle for PG tips bags (the Horror...) or gunpowder green.

**TimmyBoston** · 08-07-2008, 12:50 AM

Originally Posted by Stauff

Should be receiving a tin of Fortnum and Mason 'Breakfast Blend' (blend of pure Assam teas) next week. Otherwise it's Taylor's of Harrogate's pure Assam for me.

At work, I'll settle for PG tips bags (the Horror...) or gunpowder green.

Nice to see you around these parts Frederik...How are things?

**Stauff** · 08-07-2008, 01:18 AM

Thanks for asking, Tim. Doing much better than of late actually, and hoping to sort of 'come back' to B&B. Still love this place.

All the best and see you soon on these pages.

**dloyd9999** · 08-07-2008, 05:14 AM

Office Tea: King Cole. The only canadian tea left still packaged in cotton gauze. I can't stand the dusty paper thingies.

**GarageBoy** · 08-07-2008, 07:41 AM

I'm a sucker for Shou-Mei
Nice, light and crisp

**Magicpixie** · 08-07-2008, 08:32 AM

Ceylon or Kenyan anytime; Assam for extra flavour and Rooboos in the evening.

**kestrel** · 08-07-2008, 08:53 AM

Lipton's Yellow Label - plain black Indian tea of excellent quality, for every day.

Lapsang souchong - smoky and delicious, as an occasional treat!

Best Regards

Graham